1
|
Guo X, Song J, Liu M, Ou X, Guo Y. The interplay between the tumor microenvironment and tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles in cancer development and therapeutic response. Cancer Biol Ther 2024; 25:2356831. [PMID: 38767879 PMCID: PMC11110713 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2024.2356831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an essential role in tumor cell survival by profoundly influencing their proliferation, metastasis, immune evasion, and resistance to treatment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small particles released by all cell types and often reflect the state of their parental cells and modulate other cells' functions through the various cargo they transport. Tumor-derived small EVs (TDSEVs) can transport specific proteins, nucleic acids and lipids tailored to propagate tumor signals and establish a favorable TME. Thus, the TME's biological characteristics can affect TDSEV heterogeneity, and this interplay can amplify tumor growth, dissemination, and resistance to therapy. This review discusses the interplay between TME and TDSEVs based on their biological characteristics and summarizes strategies for targeting cancer cells. Additionally, it reviews the current issues and challenges in this field to offer fresh insights into comprehending tumor development mechanisms and exploring innovative clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuanyu Guo
- The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, PR China
| | - Jiajun Song
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, the Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, PR China
| | - Miao Liu
- Nanobiosensing and Microfluidic Point-of-Care Testing, Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, PR China
| | - Xinyi Ou
- Nanobiosensing and Microfluidic Point-of-Care Testing, Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, PR China
| | - Yongcan Guo
- Nanobiosensing and Microfluidic Point-of-Care Testing, Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mohanta Z, Stabinska J, Gilad AA, Barker PB, McMahon MT. The Proton Resonance Enhancement for CEST imaging and Shift Exchange (PRECISE) family of RF pulse shapes for Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.19.599565. [PMID: 38948741 PMCID: PMC11212941 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.19.599565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Purpose To optimize a 100 msec pulse for producing CEST MRI contrast and evaluate in mice. Methods A gradient ascent algorithm was employed to generate a family of 100 point, 100 msec pulses for use in CEST pulse trains ('PRECISE'). Gradient ascent optimizations were performed for exchange rates (k ca ) = 500 s -1 , 1,500 s -1 , 2,500 s -1 , 3,500 s -1 and 4,500 s -1 and offsets (Δω) = 9.6, 7.8, 4.2 and 2.0 ppm. 7 PRECISE pulse shapes were tested on an 11.7 T scanner using a phantom containing three representative CEST agents with peak saturation B 1 = 4 μT. The pulse producing the most contrast in phantoms was then evaluated for CEST MRI pH mapping of the kidneys in healthy mice after iopamidol administration. Results The most promising pulse in terms of contrast performance across all three phantoms was the 9.6 ppm, 2500 s -1 optimized pulse with ∼2.7 x improvement over Gaussian and ∼1.3x's over Fermi pulses. This pulse also displayed a large improvement in contrast over the Gaussian pulse after administration of iopamidol in live mice. Conclusion A new 100 msec pulse was developed based on gradient ascent optimizations which produced better contrast compared to standard Gaussian and Fermi pulses in phantoms. This shape also showed a substantial improvement for CEST MRI pH mapping in live mice over the Gaussian shape and appears promising for a wide range of CEST applications.
Collapse
|
3
|
Franke VL, Breitling J, Boyd PS, Feignier A, Bangert R, Weckesser N, Schlemmer HP, Ladd ME, Bachert P, Paech D, Korzowski A. A versatile look-up algorithm for mapping pH values and magnesium ion content using 31P MRSI. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2024; 37:e5113. [PMID: 38316107 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
31P MRSI allows for the non-invasive mapping of pH and magnesium ion content (Mg) in vivo, by translating the chemical shifts of inorganic phosphate and adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) to pH and Mg via suitable calibration equations, such as the modified Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. However, the required constants in these calibration equations are typically only determined for physiological conditions, posing a particular challenge for their application to diseased tissue, where the biochemical conditions might change manyfold. In this article, we propose a multi-parametric look-up algorithm aiming at the condition-independent determination of pH and Mg by employing multiple quantifiable 31P spectral properties simultaneously. To generate entries for an initial look-up table, measurements from 114 model solutions prepared with varying chemical properties were made at 9.4 T. The number of look-up table entries was increased by inter- and extrapolation using a multi-dimensional function developed based on the Hill equation. The assignment of biochemical parameters, that is, pH and Mg, is realized using probability distributions incorporating specific measurement uncertainties on the quantified spectral parameters, allowing for an estimation of most plausible output values. As proof of concept, we applied a version of the look-up algorithm employing only the chemical shifts of γ- and β-ATP for the determination of pH and Mg to in vivo 3D 31P MRSI data acquired at 7 T from (i) the lower leg muscles of healthy volunteers and (ii) the brains of patients with glioblastoma. The resulting volumetric maps showed plausible values for pH and Mg, partly revealing differences from maps generated using the conventional calibration equations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa L Franke
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Breitling
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philip S Boyd
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Antoine Feignier
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Renate Bangert
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nina Weckesser
- Division of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Heinz-Peter Schlemmer
- Division of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Bachert
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Paech
- Division of Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas Korzowski
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhao Z, Jin Z, Wu G, Li C, Yu J. TriFNet: A triple-branch feature fusion network for pH determination by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 312:124048. [PMID: 38387412 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Due to the acidic tumor microenvironment caused by metabolic changes in tumor cells, the accurate pH detection of extracellular fluid is helpful for doctors in precise tumor resection. The combination of Raman spectroscopy and deep learning provides a solution for pH detection. However, most existing studies use one-dimensional convolutional neural networks (1D-CNNs) for spectral analysis, which limits the performance due to insufficient feature extraction. In this work, we propose a 2D triple-branch feature fusion network (TriFNet) for accurate pH determination using surface-enhanced Raman spectra (SERS). Specifically, we design a triple-branch network structure by converting Raman spectra into three types of images to extensively extract complex patterns in spectra. In addition, an attention fusion module, which leverages the complementarity among features in both space and channel, is designed to obtain the valuable information, achieving further accurate pH determination. On our Raman spectral dataset containing 14,137 samples, we achieved mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.059, standard deviation of the absolute error (SD) of 0.07, root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.092, and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.991 on the test set. Compared with other published methods, the four metrics showed an average improvement of 47%, 39%, 43%, and 6%, respectively. In addition, visualization validates the diagnostic capability of our model to correlate with biomolecular signatures. Meanwhile, our model has robustness to different SERS chips. These results prove the potential of our method to develop an effective technology based on Raman spectroscopy for accurate pH determination to guide surgery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhao
- School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ziyi Jin
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Guoqing Wu
- School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Cong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Jinhua Yu
- School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Donahue MJ, Donahue PMC, Jones RS, Garza M, Lee C, Patel NJ, Cooper A, De Vis JB, Meszoely I, Crescenzi R. In vivo lymph node CEST-Dixon MRI in breast cancer patients with metastatic lymph node involvement. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:670-680. [PMID: 37684712 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Axillary lymph nodes (LNs) often present a reservoir for metastatic breast cancer, yet metastatic LN involvement cannot be discerned definitively using diagnostic imaging. This study investigated whether in vivo CEST may discriminate LNs with versus without metastatic involvement. METHODS 3T MRI was performed in patients with breast cancer before clinically-indicated mastectomy or lumpectomy with LN removal, after which LN metastasic involvement was determined using histological evaluation. Non-contrast anatomical imaging, as well as B0 and B1 field maps, were acquired in sequence with three-point CEST-Dixon (3D turbo-gradient-echo; factor = 25; TR/TE1/ΔTE = 851/1.35/1.1 ms; spatial-resolution = 2.5 × 2.5 × 6 mm; slices = 10; four sinc-gauss pulses with duty-cycle = 0.5, total saturation duration = 701.7 ms; B1 = 1.5 μT; saturation offsets = -5.5 to +5.5 ppm; stepsize = 0.2 ppm; scan duration = 6 min 30 s). The mean z-spectrum from LNs with (n = 20) versus without (n = 22) metastatic involvement were analyzed and a Wilcoxon rank-sum test (significance: p < 0.05) was applied to evaluate differences in B0, B1 , and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) in differing spectral regions of known proton exchange (nuclear Overhauser effect [NOE], amide, amine, and hydroxyl) between cohorts. RESULTS No difference in axillary B1 (p = 0.634) or B0 (p = 0.689) was observed between cohorts. Elevated MTR was observed for the NOE (-1.7 ppm; MTR = 0.285 ± 0.075 vs. 0.248 ± 0.039; p = 0.048), amine (+2.5 ppm; MTR = 0.284 ± 0.067 vs. 0.234 ± 0.31; p = 0.005), and hydroxyl (+1 ppm; MTR = 0.394 ± 0.075 vs. 0.329 ± 0.055; p = 0.002) protons in LNs from participants with versus without metastatic involvement. CONCLUSIONS Findings are consistent with a unique metastatic LN microenvironment detectable by CEST-Dixon and suggest that CEST MRI may have potential for mapping LN metastasis non-invasively in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manus J Donahue
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Paula M C Donahue
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Dayani Center for Health and Wellness, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - R Sky Jones
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Maria Garza
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Chelsea Lee
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Niral J Patel
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Jill B De Vis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ingrid Meszoely
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rachelle Crescenzi
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang N, Song Q, Liang H, Wang Z, Wu Q, Zhang H, Zhang L, Liu A, Wang H, Wang J, Lin L. Early prediction of pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast tumors: a comparative study using amide proton transfer-weighted, diffusion weighted and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1295478. [PMID: 38298813 PMCID: PMC10827983 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1295478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To examine amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) combined with diffusion weighed (DWI) and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI for early prediction of pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in invasive breast cancer. Materials In this prospective study, 50 female breast cancer patients (49.58 ± 10.62 years old) administered neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) were enrolled with MRI carried out both before NAC (T0) and at the end of the second cycle of NAC (T1). The patients were divided into 2 groups based on tumor response according to the Miller-Payne Grading (MPG) system. Group 1 included patients with a greater degree of decrease in major histologic responder (MHR, Miller-Payne G4-5), while group 2 included non-MHR cases (Miller-Payne G1-3). Traditional imaging protocols (T1 weighted, T2 weighted, diffusion weighted, and DCE-MRI) and APTw imaging were scanned for each subject before and after treatment. APTw value (APTw0 and APTw1), Dmax (maximum diameter, Dmax0 and Dmax1), V (3D tumor volume, V0 and V1), and ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient, ADC0 and ADC1) before and after treatment, as well as changes between the two times points (ΔAPT, ΔDmax, ΔV, ΔADC) for breast tumors were compared between the two groups. Results APT0 and APT1 values significantly differed between the two groups (p = 0.034 and 0.01). ΔAPTw values were significantly lower in non-MHR tumors compared with MHR tumors (p = 0.015). ΔDmax values were significantly higher in MHR tumors compared with non-MHR tumors (p = 0.005). ADC0 and ADC1 values were significantly higher in MHR tumors than in non-MHR tumors (p = 0.038 and 0.035). AUC (Dmax+DWI + APTw) = AUC (Dmax+APTw) > AUC (APTw) > AUC (Dmax+DWI) > AUC (Dmax). Conclusion APTw imaging along with change of tumor size showed a significant potential in early prediction of MHR for NAC treatment in breast cancer, which might allow timely regimen refinement before definitive surgical treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingwei Song
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Hongbing Liang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Zhuo Wang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qi Wu
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Haonan Zhang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ailian Liu
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Huali Wang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Jiazheng Wang
- MSC Clinical and Technical Solutions, Philips Healthcare, Beijing, China
| | - Liangjie Lin
- MSC Clinical and Technical Solutions, Philips Healthcare, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liu Y, Wang T, Ma W, Jia Z, Wang Q, Zhang M, Luo Y, Sun H. Metabolic reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment: unleashing T cell stemness for enhanced cancer immunotherapy. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1327717. [PMID: 38169800 PMCID: PMC10758489 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1327717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
T cells play a pivotal role in the immune system by distinguishing between various harmful pathogens and cancerous cells within the human body and initiating an immune response. Within the tumor microenvironment (TME), immune effector T cells encounter both immunosuppressive cells and factors that hinder their functionality. Additionally, they endure robust and persistent antigenic stimulation, often leading to exhaustion and apoptosis. However, the stemness of T cells, characterized by their ability to survive and self-renew over extended periods, represents a primary target in immune checkpoint therapies such as anti-PD-1 therapy. T cell stemness encompasses specific memory T cell subsets and progenitor-exhausted T cells with stem cell-like properties. Therefore, understanding the impact of the TME on T cell stemness, including factors like K+, lactate, and H+, holds significant importance and can facilitate the mitigation of terminal T-cell depletion, the identification of potential resilient biomarkers or therapeutic targets resistant to immune checkpoint therapies, and ultimately lead to sustained anti-tumor effects. Thus, it offers a novel perspective for advancing tumor immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youhan Liu
- College of Sport and Health, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Wen Ma
- College of Sport and Health, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, China
| | - Zixuan Jia
- College of Sport and Health, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, China
| | - Qinglu Wang
- College of Sport and Health, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, China
| | - Maoling Zhang
- College of Sport and Health, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, China
| | - Ying Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Hongmei Sun
- College of Sport and Health, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tsai YL, Arias-Badia M, Kadlecek TA, Lwin YM, Srinath A, Shah NH, Wang ZE, Barber D, Kuriyan J, Fong L, Weiss A. TCR signaling promotes formation of an STS1-Cbl-b complex with pH-sensitive phosphatase activity that suppresses T cell function in acidic environments. Immunity 2023; 56:2682-2698.e9. [PMID: 38091950 PMCID: PMC10785950 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
T cell responses are inhibited by acidic environments. T cell receptor (TCR)-induced protein phosphorylation is negatively regulated by dephosphorylation and/or ubiquitination, but the mechanisms underlying sensitivity to acidic environments are not fully understood. Here, we found that TCR stimulation induced a molecular complex of Cbl-b, an E3-ubiquitin ligase, with STS1, a pH-sensitive unconventional phosphatase. The induced interaction depended upon a proline motif in Cbl-b interacting with the STS1 SH3 domain. STS1 dephosphorylated Cbl-b interacting phosphoproteins. The deficiency of STS1 or Cbl-b diminished the sensitivity of T cell responses to the inhibitory effects of acid in an autocrine or paracrine manner in vitro or in vivo. Moreover, the deficiency of STS1 or Cbl-b promoted T cell proliferative and differentiation activities in vivo and inhibited tumor growth, prolonged survival, and improved T cell fitness in tumor models. Thus, a TCR-induced STS1-Cbl-b complex senses intra- or extra-cellular acidity and regulates T cell responses, presenting a potential therapeutic target for improving anti-tumor immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Li Tsai
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Marcel Arias-Badia
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Theresa A Kadlecek
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Yee May Lwin
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Aahir Srinath
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Neel H Shah
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Zhi-En Wang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Diane Barber
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - John Kuriyan
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Arthur Weiss
- Rosalind Russell and Ephraim P. Engleman Rheumatology Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Patrucco D, Cutrin JC, Longo DL, Botto E, Cong L, Aime S, Delli Castelli D. In Situ Insonation of Alkaline Buffer Containing Liposomes Leads to a Net Improvement of the Therapeutic Outcome in a Triple Negative Breast Cancer Murine Model. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301480. [PMID: 37709294 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is characterized by an acidic micro-environment. Acidic extracellular pH gives cancer cells an evolutionary advantage, hence, neutralization of the extracellular pH has been considered as a potential therapeutic strategy. To address the issue of systemic pH alteration, an approach based on the targeted delivery of the buffering solution to the tumor region is investigated. The method relies on the use of low frequency ultrasound and sono-sensitive liposomes loaded with buffers at alkaline pH (LipHUS). After the i.v. injection of LipHUS, the application of ultrasound (US) at the sites of the pathology induces a local increase of pH that results highly effective in i) inhibiting primary tumor growth, ii) reducing tumor recurrence after surgery, and iii) suppressing metastases' formation. The experiments are carried out on a triple negative breast cancer mouse model. The results obtained demonstrate that localized and triggered release of bicarbonate or PBS buffer from sonosensitive liposomes represents an efficient therapeutic tool for treating triple-negative breast cancer. This approach holds promise for potential clinical translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deyssy Patrucco
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Juan Carlos Cutrin
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Dario Livio Longo
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini (IBB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, Naples, 80145, Italy
| | - Elena Botto
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini (IBB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, Naples, 80145, Italy
| | - Li Cong
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Silvio Aime
- IRCCS SDN, SYNLAB, Via Gianturco 113, Naples, 80143, Italy
| | - Daniela Delli Castelli
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, Turin, 10126, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wachira FW, Githirwa DC, McPartlon T, Nazarenko V, Gonzales JJC, Gazura MM, Leen C, Clary HR, Alston C, Klees LM, Yao L, An M. D-to-E and T19V Variants of the pH-Low Insertion Peptide and Their Doxorubicin Conjugates Interact with Membrane at Higher pH Ranges Than WT. Biochemistry 2023; 62:2997-3011. [PMID: 37793002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
To improve targeted cargo delivery to cancer cells, pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) variants were developed to interact with the membrane at pH values higher than those of the WT. The Asp-to-Glu variants aim to increase side chain pKa without disturbing the sequence of protonations that underpin membrane insertion. The Thr19 variants represent efforts to perturb the critical Pro20 residue. To study the effect of cargo on pHLIP insertion, doxorubicin (Dox), a fluorescent antineoplastic drug, was conjugated to selected variants near the inserting C-terminus. Variants and conjugates were characterized on a POPC membrane using Trp and Dox fluorescence methods to define the entire pH range of insertion (pHinitial-pHfinal). Compared to WT with a pHi-pHf range of 6.7-5.6, D25E-D31E-D33E, D14E-D25E-D31E-D33E, and T19V-D25E variants demonstrated higher pHi-pHf ranges of 7.3-6.1, 7.3-6.3, and 8.2-5.4, respectively. The addition of Dox expanded the pHi-pHf range, mainly by shifting pHi to higher pH values (e.g., WT pHLIP-Dox has a pHi-pHf range of 7.7-5.2). Despite the low Hill coefficient observed for the conjugates, D14E-D25E-D31E-D33E pHLIP-Dox completed insertion by a pHf of 5.7. However, the Dox cargo remained in the hydrophobic membrane interior after pHLIP insertion, which may impede drug release. Finally, a logistic function can describe pHLIP insertion as a peripheral-to-TM (start-to-finish) two-state transition; wherever possible, we discuss data deviating from such sigmoidal fitting in support of the idea that pH-specific intermediate states distinct from the initial peripheral state and the final TM state exist at intervening pH values.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Faith W Wachira
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Dancan C Githirwa
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Thomas McPartlon
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Vladyslav Nazarenko
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Jerel J C Gonzales
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Makenzie M Gazura
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Caitlin Leen
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Hannah R Clary
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Claire Alston
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Lukas M Klees
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Lan Yao
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
- Department of Physics, SUNY, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Ming An
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rahman A, Janic B, Rahman T, Singh H, Ali H, Rattan R, Kazi M, Ali MM. Immunotherapy Enhancement by Targeting Extracellular Tumor pH in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Mouse Model. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4931. [PMID: 37894298 PMCID: PMC10605606 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15204931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), as one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, is characterized by a poor prognosis and a very low rate of disease-free and overall survival. In recent years, immunotherapeutic approaches targeting T cell checkpoint molecules, such as cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed death1 (PD-1) or its ligand, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), have shown great potential and have been used to treat various cancers as single therapies or in combination with other modalities. However, despite this remarkable progress, patients with TNBC have shown a low response rate to this approach, commonly developing resistance to immune checkpoint blockade, leading to treatment failure. Extracellular acidosis within the tumor microenvironment (also known as the Warburg effect) is one of the factors preventing immune cells from mounting effective responses and contributing to immunotherapy treatment failure. Therefore, reducing tumor acidity is important for increasing cancer immunotherapy effectiveness and this has yet to be realized in the TNBC environment. In this study, the oral administration of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) enhanced the antitumor effect of anti-PD-L1 antibody treatment, as demonstrated by generated antitumor immunity, tumor growth inhibition and enhanced survival in 4T1-Luc breast cancer model. Here, we show that NaHCO3 increased extracellular pH (pHe) in tumor tissues in vivo, an effect that was accompanied by an increase in T cell infiltration, T cell activation and IFN-γ, IL2 and IL12p40 mRNA expression in tumor tissues, as well as an increase in T cell activation in tumor-draining lymph nodes. Interestingly, these changes were further enhanced in response to combined NaHCO3 + anti-PD-L1 therapy. In addition, the acidic extracellular conditions caused a significant increase in PD-L1 expression in vitro. Taken together, these results indicate that alkalizing therapy holds potential as a new tumor microenvironment immunomodulator and we hypothesize that NaHCO3 can enhance the antitumor effects of anti-PD-L1 breast cancer therapy. The combination of these treatments may have an exceptional impact on future TNBC immunotherapeutic approaches by providing a powerful personalized medicine paradigm. Therefore, our findings have a great translational potential for improving outcomes in TNBC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Azizur Rahman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Branislava Janic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Tasnim Rahman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Harshit Singh
- Women’s Health Services, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA (R.R.)
| | - Haythem Ali
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Ramandeep Rattan
- Women’s Health Services, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA (R.R.)
| | - Mohsin Kazi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Meser M. Ali
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Xu J, Chung JJ, Jin T. Chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging of creatine, phosphocreatine, and protein arginine residue in tissues. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2023; 36:e4671. [PMID: 34978371 PMCID: PMC9250548 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI has become a promising technique to assay target proteins and metabolites through their exchangeable protons, noninvasively. The ubiquity of creatine (Cr) and phosphocreatine (PCr) due to their pivotal roles in energy homeostasis through the creatine phosphate pathway has made them prime targets for CEST in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease pathologies, particularly in tissues heavily dependent on the maintenance of rich energy reserves. Guanidinium CEST from protein arginine residues (i.e. arginine CEST) can also provide information about the protein profile in tissue. However, numerous obfuscating factors stand as obstacles to the specificity of arginine, Cr, and PCr imaging through CEST, such as semisolid magnetization transfer, fast chemical exchanges such as primary amines, and the effects of nuclear Overhauser enhancement from aromatic and amide protons. In this review, the specific exchange properties of protein arginine residues, Cr, and PCr, along with their validation, are discussed, including the considerations necessary to target and tune their signal effects through CEST imaging. Additionally, strategies that have been employed to enhance the specificity of these exchanges in CEST imaging are described, along with how they have opened up possible applications of protein arginine residues, Cr and PCr CEST imaging in the study and diagnosis of pathology. A clear understanding of the capabilities and caveats of using CEST to image these vital metabolites and mitigation strategies is crucial to expanding the possibilities of this promising technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiadi Xu
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Julius Juhyun Chung
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tao Jin
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hunger L, Rajput JR, Klein K, Mennecke A, Fabian MS, Schmidt M, Glang F, Herz K, Liebig P, Nagel AM, Scheffler K, Dörfler A, Maier A, Zaiss M. DeepCEST 7 T: Fast and homogeneous mapping of 7 T CEST MRI parameters and their uncertainty quantification. Magn Reson Med 2023; 89:1543-1556. [PMID: 36377762 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In this work, we investigated the ability of neural networks to rapidly and robustly predict Lorentzian parameters of multi-pool CEST MRI spectra at 7 T with corresponding uncertainty maps to make them quickly and easily available for routine clinical use. METHODS We developed a deepCEST 7 T approach that generates CEST contrasts from just 1 scan with robustness against B1 inhomogeneities. The input data for a neural feed-forward network consisted of 7 T in vivo uncorrected Z-spectra of a single B1 level, and a B1 map. The 7 T raw data were acquired using a 3D snapshot gradient echo multiple interleaved mode saturation CEST sequence. These inputs were mapped voxel-wise to target data consisting of Lorentzian amplitudes generated conventionally by 5-pool Lorentzian fitting of normalized, denoised, B0 - and B1 -corrected Z-spectra. The deepCEST network was trained with Gaussian negative log-likelihood loss, providing an uncertainty quantification in addition to the Lorentzian amplitudes. RESULTS The deepCEST 7 T network provides fast and accurate prediction of all Lorentzian parameters also when only a single B1 level is used. The prediction was highly accurate with respect to the Lorentzian fit amplitudes, and both healthy tissues and hyperintensities in tumor areas are predicted with a low uncertainty. In corrupted cases, high uncertainty indicated wrong predictions reliably. CONCLUSION The proposed deepCEST 7 T approach reduces scan time by 50% to now 6:42 min, but still delivers both B0 - and B1 -corrected homogeneous CEST contrasts along with an uncertainty map, which can increase diagnostic confidence. Multiple accurate 7 T CEST contrasts are delivered within seconds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Hunger
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Junaid R Rajput
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Pattern Recognition Lab, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kiril Klein
- Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Angelika Mennecke
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Moritz S Fabian
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manuel Schmidt
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Felix Glang
- Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kai Herz
- Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Armin M Nagel
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus Scheffler
- Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Arnd Dörfler
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Maier
- Pattern Recognition Lab, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Moritz Zaiss
- Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Swetha KL, Paul M, Maravajjala KS, Kumbham S, Biswas S, Roy A. Overcoming drug resistance with a docetaxel and disulfiram loaded pH-sensitive nanoparticle. J Control Release 2023; 356:93-114. [PMID: 36841286 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that breast cancer cells deploy a myriad array of strategies to thwart the activity of anticancer drugs like docetaxel (DTX), including acquired drug resistance due to overexpression of drug-efflux pumps like P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and innate drug resistance by cancer stem cells (CSCs). As disulfiram (DSF) can inhibit both P-gp and CSCs, we hypothesized that co-treatment of DTX and DSF could sensitize the drug-resistant breast cancer cells. To deliver a fixed dose ratio of DTX and DSF targeted to the tumor, a tumor extracellular pH-responsive nanoparticle (NP) was developed using a histidine-conjugated star-shaped PLGA with TPGS surface decoration ([DD]NpH-T). By releasing the encapsulated drugs in the tumor microenvironment, pH-sensitive NPs can overcome the tumor stroma-based resistance against nanomedicines. In in-vitro studies, [DD]NpH-T exhibited increased drug release at pH 6.8, improved penetration in a 3D tumor spheroid, reduced serum protein adsorption, and enhanced cytotoxic efficacy against both innate and acquired DTX-resistant breast cancer cells. In in-vivo studies, a significant increase in plasma AUC and tumor drug delivery was observed with [DD]NpH-T, which resulted in an enhanced in-vivo anti-tumor efficacy against a mouse orthotopic breast cancer, with a significantly increased intratumoral ROS and apoptosis, while decreasing P-gp expression and prevention of lung metastasis. Altogether, the current study demonstrated that the DTX and DSF combination could effectively target multiple drug-resistance pathways in-vitro, and the in-vivo delivery of this drug combination using TPGS-decorated pH-sensitive NPs could increase tumor accumulation, resulting in improved anti-tumor efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Laxmi Swetha
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, Vidya Vihar, Pilani, Rajasthan 333031, India
| | - Milan Paul
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Medchal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India
| | - Kavya Sree Maravajjala
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, Vidya Vihar, Pilani, Rajasthan 333031, India
| | - Soniya Kumbham
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Medchal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India
| | - Swati Biswas
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Medchal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500078, India.
| | - Aniruddha Roy
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, Vidya Vihar, Pilani, Rajasthan 333031, India.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Arslan FB, Öztürk K, Tavukçuoğlu E, Öztürk SC, Esendağlı G, Çalış S. A novel combination for the treatment of small cell lung cancer: Active targeted irinotecan and stattic co-loaded PLGA nanoparticles. Int J Pharm 2023; 632:122573. [PMID: 36592892 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Polymeric nanoparticles are widely used drug delivery systems for cancer treatment due to their properties such as ease of passing through biological membranes, opportunity to modify drug release, specifically targeting drugs to diseased areas, and potential of reducing side effects. Here, we formulated irinotecan and Stattic co-loaded PLGA nanoparticles targeted to small cell lung cancer. Nanoparticles were successfully conjugated with CD56 antibody with a conjugation efficiency of 84.39 ± 1.01%, and characterization of formulated nanoparticles was conducted with in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Formulated particles had sizes in the range of 130-180 nm with PDI values smaller than 0.3. Encapsulation and active targeting of irinotecan and Stattic resulted in increased cytotoxicity and anti-cancer efficiency in-vitro. Furthermore, it was shown with ex-vivo biodistribution studies that conjugated nanoparticles were successfully targeted to CD56-expressing SCLC cells and distributed mainly to tumor tissue and lungs. Compliant with our hypothesis and literature, the STAT3 pathway was successfully inhibited with Stattic solution and Stattic loaded nanoparticles. Additionally, intravenous injection of conjugated co-loaded nanoparticles resulted in decreased side effects and better anti-tumor activity than individual solutions of drugs in SCLC tumor-bearing mice. These results may indicate a new treatment option for clinically aggressive small cell lung cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Betül Arslan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkiye
| | - Kıvılcım Öztürk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkiye
| | - Ece Tavukçuoğlu
- Department of Basic Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, 06100 Ankara, Turkiye
| | - Süleyman Can Öztürk
- Centre for Laboratory Animals Research and Application, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye
| | - Güneş Esendağlı
- Department of Basic Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, 06100 Ankara, Turkiye
| | - Sema Çalış
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkiye.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Vladimirov N, Perlman O. Molecular MRI-Based Monitoring of Cancer Immunotherapy Treatment Response. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:3151. [PMID: 36834563 PMCID: PMC9959624 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy constitutes a paradigm shift in cancer treatment. Its FDA approval for several indications has yielded improved prognosis for cases where traditional therapy has shown limited efficiency. However, many patients still fail to benefit from this treatment modality, and the exact mechanisms responsible for tumor response are unknown. Noninvasive treatment monitoring is crucial for longitudinal tumor characterization and the early detection of non-responders. While various medical imaging techniques can provide a morphological picture of the lesion and its surrounding tissue, a molecular-oriented imaging approach holds the key to unraveling biological effects that occur much earlier in the immunotherapy timeline. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a highly versatile imaging modality, where the image contrast can be tailored to emphasize a particular biophysical property of interest using advanced engineering of the imaging pipeline. In this review, recent advances in molecular-MRI based cancer immunotherapy monitoring are described. Next, the presentation of the underlying physics, computational, and biological features are complemented by a critical analysis of the results obtained in preclinical and clinical studies. Finally, emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-based strategies to further distill, quantify, and interpret the image-based molecular MRI information are discussed in terms of perspectives for the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Vladimirov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Or Perlman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Jardim-Perassi BV, Irrera P, Lau JYC, Budzevich M, Whelan CJ, Abrahams D, Ruiz E, Ibrahim-Hashim A, Damgaci Erturk S, Longo DL, Pilon-Thomas SA, Gillies RJ. Intraperitoneal Delivery of Iopamidol to Assess Extracellular pH of Orthotopic Pancreatic Tumor Model by CEST-MRI. CONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING 2023; 2023:1944970. [PMID: 36704211 PMCID: PMC9836819 DOI: 10.1155/2023/1944970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular pH (pHe) of solid tumors is often acidic, as a consequence of the Warburg effect, and an altered metabolic state is often associated with malignancy. It has been shown that acidosis can promote tumor progression; thus, many therapeutic strategies have been adopted against tumor metabolism; one of these involves alkalinization therapies to raise tumor pH to inhibit tumor progression, improve immune surveillance, and overcome resistance to chemotherapies. Chemical exchange saturation transfer-magnetic resonance imaging (CEST-MRI) is a noninvasive technique that can measure pH in vivo using pH-sensitive contrast agents. Iopamidol, an iodinated contrast agent, clinically used for computed tomography (CT), contains amide group protons with pH-dependent exchange rates that can reveal the pHe of the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we optimized intraperitoneal (IP) delivery of iopamidol to facilitate longitudinal assessments of orthotopic pancreatic tumor pHe by CEST-MRI. Following IV-infusion and IP-bolus injections, we compared the two protocols for assessing tumor pH. Time-resolved CT imaging was used to evaluate the uptake of iopamidol in the tumor, revealing that IP-bolus delivered a high amount of contrast agent 40 min postinjection, which was similar to the amounts reached with the IV-infusion protocol. As expected, both IP and IV injection protocols produced comparable measurements of tumor pHe, showing no statistically significant difference between groups (p=0.16). In addition, we showed the ability to conduct longitudinal monitoring of tumor pHe using CEST-MRI with the IP injection protocol, revealing a statistically significant increase in tumor pHe following bicarbonate administration (p < 0.001). In conclusion, this study shows the capability to measure pHe using an IP delivery of iopamidol into orthotopic pancreatic tumors, which is important to conduct longitudinal studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pietro Irrera
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Justin Y. C. Lau
- Small Animal Imaging Laboratory, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Mikalai Budzevich
- Small Animal Imaging Laboratory, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Christopher J. Whelan
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Epifanio Ruiz
- Small Animal Imaging Laboratory, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Arig Ibrahim-Hashim
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Sultan Damgaci Erturk
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Dario Livio Longo
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimages (IBB), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Turin, Italy
| | - Shari A. Pilon-Thomas
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Robert J. Gillies
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Vaneev AN, Timoshenko RV, Gorelkin PV, Klyachko NL, Korchev YE, Erofeev AS. Nano- and Microsensors for In Vivo Real-Time Electrochemical Analysis: Present and Future Perspectives. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:3736. [PMID: 36364512 PMCID: PMC9656311 DOI: 10.3390/nano12213736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical nano- and microsensors have been a useful tool for measuring different analytes because of their small size, sensitivity, and favorable electrochemical properties. Using such sensors, it is possible to study physiological mechanisms at the cellular, tissue, and organ levels and determine the state of health and diseases. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the application of electrochemical sensors for measuring neurotransmitters, oxygen, ascorbate, drugs, pH values, and other analytes in vivo. The evolution of electrochemical sensors is discussed, with a particular focus on the development of significant fabrication schemes. Finally, we highlight the extensive applications of electrochemical sensors in medicine and biological science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander N. Vaneev
- Research Laboratory of Biophysics, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, 119049 Moscow, Russia
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Roman V. Timoshenko
- Research Laboratory of Biophysics, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, 119049 Moscow, Russia
| | - Petr V. Gorelkin
- Research Laboratory of Biophysics, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, 119049 Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia L. Klyachko
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Yuri E. Korchev
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Alexander S. Erofeev
- Research Laboratory of Biophysics, National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, 119049 Moscow, Russia
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Meng L, Song K, Li S, Kang Y. Exosomes: Small Vesicles with Important Roles in the Development, Metastasis and Treatment of Breast Cancer. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12080775. [PMID: 36005690 PMCID: PMC9414313 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12080775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) has now overtaken lung cancer as the most common cancer, while no biopredictive marker isolated from biological fluids has yet emerged clinically. After traditional chemotherapy, with the huge side effects brought by drugs, patients also suffer from the double affliction of drugs to the body while fighting cancer, and they often quickly develop drug resistance after the drug, leading to a poor prognosis. And the treatment of some breast cancer subtypes, such as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), is even more difficult. Exosomes (Exos), which are naturally occurring extracellular vesicles (EVs) with nanoscale acellular structures ranging in diameter from 40 to 160 nm, can be isolated from various biological fluids and have been widely studied because they are derived from the cell membrane, have extremely small diameter, and are widely involved in various biological activities of the body. It can be used directly or modified to make derivatives or to make some analogs for the treatment of breast cancer. This review will focus on the involvement of exosomes in breast cancer initiation, progression, invasion as well as metastasis and the therapeutic role of exosomes in breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling’ao Meng
- Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang 110042, China
| | - Kedong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian R&D Center for Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Shenglong Li
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang 110042, China
- Correspondence: (S.L.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yue Kang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang 110042, China
- Correspondence: (S.L.); (Y.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Li Y, Deng G, Hu X, Li C, Wang X, Zhu Q, Zheng K, Xiong W, Wu H. Recent advances in mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based targeted drug-delivery systems for cancer therapy. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2022; 17:1253-1279. [PMID: 36250937 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2022-0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted drug-delivery systems are a growing research topic in tumor treatment. In recent years, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been extensively studied and applied in noninvasive and biocompatible drug-delivery systems for tumor therapy due to their outstanding advantages, which include high surface area, large pore volume, tunable pore size, easy surface modification and stable framework. The advances in the application of MSNs for anticancer drug targeting are covered and highlighted in this review, and the challenges and prospects of MSN-based targeted drug-delivery systems are discussed. This review provides new insights for researchers interested in targeted drug-delivery systems against cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoxing Deng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China.,School of Pharmacy, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianlong Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenyang Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinchang Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Zheng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xiong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiqiang Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zhao Y, Zu Z, Xu J, Gore JC, Does MD, Li J, Gochberg DF. Mapping pH using stimulated echoes formed via chemical exchange. Magn Reson Imaging 2022; 92:100-107. [PMID: 35764217 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE RACETE (refocused acquisition of chemical exchange transferred excitations) is a recently developed approach to imaging solute exchange with water. However, it lacks biophysical specificity, as it is sensitive to exchange rates, relaxation rates, solute concentration, and macromolecular content. We modified this sequence and developed a protocol and corresponding metric with specific sensitivity to the solute exchange rate and hence a means for mapping pH. THEORY AND METHODS RACETE splits the two gradients traditionally used in a stimulated-echo sequence into one applied after exciting solutes and one applied after exciting water, hence requiring exchange for echo formation. In this work, we leverage the dependence of the stimulated-echo signal on the exchange process. By preserving the total irradiation power and using a ratio metric, the other signal dependencies cancel, leaving a specific measure of exchange rate. Additionally, artifacts due to off-resonance excitation of water are addressed using a phase cancelling approach; and a gradient-echo imaging sequence with a variable flip angle excitation is tailored for a fast read-out of RECETE prepared signals. This method is validated using numerical simulations and salicylic acid phantom experiments at 9.4 T. RESULTS Numerical simulations and phantom experiments demonstrate that the ratio-metric is a single-variable function of exchange rate with extremely low dependence on confounding factors. Additionally, artifacts due to direct water excitation are removed and robustness to B0 and B1 inhomogeneities is demonstrated. CONCLUSION The proposed method can be used for fast pH mapping with robustness against the confounding effects that widely exist in other methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhao
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongliang Zu
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Junzhong Xu
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - John C Gore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mark D Does
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jianqi Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daniel F Gochberg
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Evaluation of Syrosingopine, an MCT Inhibitor, as Potential Modulator of Tumor Metabolism and Extracellular Acidification. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12060557. [PMID: 35736489 PMCID: PMC9230831 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12060557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular acidification has been shown to be an important characteristic of invasive tumors, as it promotes invasion and migration but also resistance to treatments. Targeting transporters involved in the regulation of tumor pH constitutes a promising anti-tumor approach, as it would disrupt cellular pH homeostasis and negatively impact tumor growth. In this study, we evaluated the impact of syrosingopine, an inhibitor of MCT1 and MCT4, as a modulator of tumor metabolism and extracellular acidification in human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (FaDu) cell models. In both models in vitro, we observed that exposure to syrosingopine led to a decrease in the extracellular acidification rate, intracellular pH, glucose consumption, lactate secretion and tumor cell proliferation with an increase in the number of late apoptotic/necrotic cells. However, in vivo experiments using the MDA-MB-231 model treated with a daily injection of syrosingopine did not reveal any significant change in extracellular pH (pHe) (as measured using CEST-MRI) or primary tumor growth. Overall, our study suggests that targeting MCT could lead to profound changes in tumor cell metabolism and proliferation, and it warrants further research to identify candidates without off-target effects.
Collapse
|
23
|
Mihailovic JM, Huang Y, Walsh JJ, Khan MH, Mishra SK, Samuels S, Hyder F, Coman D. High-resolution pH imaging using ratiometric chemical exchange saturation transfer combined with biosensor imaging of redundant deviation in shifts featuring paramagnetic DOTA-tetraglycinate agents. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 35:e4658. [PMID: 34837412 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) and biosensor imaging of redundant deviation in shifts (BIRDS) methods differ respectively by detecting exchangeable and nonexchangeable proton signals by magnetic resonance. Because CEST contrast depends on both temperature and pH, simultaneous CEST and BIRDS imaging can be employed to separate these contributions. Here, we test if high-resolution pH imaging in vivo is possible with ratiometric CEST calibrated for temperature variations measured by BIRDS. Thulium- and europium-based DOTA-tetraglycinate agents, TmDOTA-(gly)4- and EuDOTA-(gly)4- , were used for high-resolution pH mapping in vitro and in vivo, using BIRDS for temperature adjustments needed for a more accurate ratiometric CEST approach. Although neither agent showed pH dependence with BIRDS in vitro in the pH range 6 to 8, each one's temperature sensitivity was enhanced when mixed because of increased redundancy. By contrast, the CEST signal of each agent was affected by the presence of the other agent in vitro. However, pH could be measured more accurately when temperature from BIRDS was detected. These in vitro calibrations with TmDOTA-(gly)4- and EuDOTA-(gly)4- enabled high-resolution pH imaging of glioblastoma in rat brains. It was concluded that temperature mapping with BIRDS can calibrate the ratiometric CEST signal from a cocktail of TmDOTA-(gly)4- and EuDOTA-(gly)4- agents to provide temperature-independent absolute pH imaging in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jelena M Mihailovic
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yuegao Huang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - John J Walsh
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Muhammad H Khan
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sandeep K Mishra
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sara Samuels
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Fahmeed Hyder
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Daniel Coman
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Wu TC, Liao CY, Lu WC, Chang CR, Tsai FY, Jiang SS, Chen TH, Lin KMC, Chen LT, Chang WSW. Identification of distinct slow mode of reversible adaptation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to the prolonged acidic pH microenvironment. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:137. [PMID: 35410237 PMCID: PMC8996570 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02329-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common pancreatic neoplasm with high metastatic potential and poor clinical outcome. Like other solid tumors, PDAC in the early stages is often asymptomatic, and grows very slowly under a distinct acidic pHe (extracellular pH) microenvironment. However, most previous studies have only reported the fate of cancerous cells upon cursory exposure to acidic pHe conditions. Little is known about how solid tumors-such as the lethal PDAC originating within the pancreatic duct-acinar system that secretes alkaline fluids-evolve to withstand and adapt to the prolonged acidotic microenvironmental stress. METHODS Representative PDAC cells were exposed to various biologically relevant periods of extracellular acidity. The time effects of acidic pHe stress were determined with respect to tumor cell proliferation, phenotypic regulation, autophagic control, metabolic plasticity, mitochondrial network dynamics, and metastatic potentials. RESULTS Unlike previous short-term analyses, we found that the acidosis-mediated autophagy occurred mainly as an early stress response but not for later adaptation to microenvironmental acidification. Rather, PDAC cells use a distinct and lengthy process of reversible adaptive plasticity centered on the early fast and later slow mitochondrial network dynamics and metabolic adjustment. This regulates their acute responses and chronic adaptations to the acidic pHe microenvironment. A more malignant state with increased migratory and invasive potentials in long-term acidosis-adapted PDAC cells was obtained with key regulatory molecules being closely related to overall patient survival. Finally, the identification of 34 acidic pHe-related genes could be potential targets for the development of diagnosis and treatment against PDAC. CONCLUSIONS Our study offers a novel mechanism of early rapid response and late reversible adaptation of PDAC cells to the stress of extracellular acidosis. The presence of this distinctive yet slow mode of machinery fills an important knowledge gap in how solid tumor cells sense, respond, reprogram, and ultimately adapt to the persistent microenvironmental acidification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Chin Wu
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 350401 Taiwan
| | - Chien-Yu Liao
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 350401 Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chien Lu
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 350401 Taiwan
| | - Chuang-Rung Chang
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044 Taiwan
| | - Fang-Yu Tsai
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 350401 Taiwan
| | - Shih-Sheng Jiang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 350401 Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsien Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 350401 Taiwan
- Current address: Ditmanson Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, 60002 Taiwan
| | - Kurt Ming-Chao Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 350401 Taiwan
| | - Li-Tzong Chen
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 350401 Taiwan
| | - Wun-Shaing Wayne Chang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 350401 Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
|
26
|
Radiometal-Based PET/MRI Contrast Agents for Sensing Tumor Extracellular pH. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12020134. [PMID: 35200394 PMCID: PMC8870419 DOI: 10.3390/bios12020134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Acidosis is a useful biomarker for tumor diagnoses and for evaluating early response to anti-cancer treatments. Despite these useful applications, there are few methods for non-invasively measuring tumor extracellular pH, and none are routinely used in clinics. Responsive MRI contrast agents have been developed, and they undergo a change in MRI signal with pH. However, these signal changes are concentration-dependent, and it is difficult to accurately measure the concentration of an MRI contrast agent in vivo. PET/MRI provides a unique opportunity to overcome this concentration dependence issue by using the PET component to report on the concentration of the pH-responsive MRI agent. Herein, we synthesized PET/MRI co-agents based on the design of a pH-dependent MRI agent, and we have correlated pH with the r1 relaxivity of the MRI co-agent. We have also developed a procedure that uses PET radioactivity measurements and MRI R1 relaxation rate measurements to determine the r1 relaxivity of the MRI co-agent, which can then be used to estimate pH. This simultaneous PET/MRI procedure accurately measured pH in solution, with a precision that depended on the concentration of the MRI co-agent. We used our procedure to measure extracellular pH in a subcutaneous flank model of MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer. Although the PET co-agents were stable in serum, post-imaging studies showed evidence that the PET co-agents were degraded in vivo. These results showed that tumor acidosis can be evaluated with simultaneous PET/MRI, although improvements are needed to more precisely measure MRI R1 relaxation rates, and ensure the in vivo stability of the agents.
Collapse
|
27
|
Panagiotopoulos AA, Kalyvianaki K, Serifoglou B, Konstantinou E, Notas G, Castanas E, Kampa M. OXER1 mediates testosterone-induced calcium responses in prostate cancer cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2022; 539:111487. [PMID: 34634385 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In prostate cancer, calcium homeostasis plays a significant role in the disease's development and progression. Intracellular calcium changes are an important secondary signal, triggered by a variety of extracellular stimuli, that controls many cellular functions. One of the main events affecting calcium is androgen signaling. Indeed, via calcium changes, androgens regulate cell processes like cell growth, differentiation and motility. In the present work we explored the nature of the receptor involved in calcium response induced by membrane-acting testosterone in prostate cancer cells. We report that testosterone, independently of the presence of the classical androgen receptor, can rapidly increase intracellular calcium from calcium stores, through the oxoeicosanoid receptor 1 (OXER1) and a specific signaling cascade that triggers calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum. These findings reveal for the first time the receptor involved in the rapid calcium changes induced by androgens. Moreover, they further support the notion that androgens, even in the absence of AR, can still exert specific effects that regulate cancer cell fate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Konstantina Kalyvianaki
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, University of Crete, School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Bourcin Serifoglou
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, University of Crete, School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Evangelia Konstantinou
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, University of Crete, School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - George Notas
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, University of Crete, School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Elias Castanas
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, University of Crete, School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece.
| | - Marilena Kampa
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, University of Crete, School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Kombala CJ, Kotrotsou A, Schuler FW, de la Cerda J, Ma JC, Zhang S, Pagel MD. Development of a Nanoscale Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent That Measures pH. ACS NANO 2021; 15:20678-20688. [PMID: 34870957 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c10107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
AcidoCEST MRI can measure the extracellular pH (pHe) of the tumor microenvironment in mouse models of human cancers and in patients who have cancer. However, chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) is an insensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast mechanism, requiring a high concentration of small-molecule agent to be delivered to the tumor. Herein, we developed a nanoscale CEST agent that can measure pH using acidoCEST MRI, which may decrease the requirement for high delivery concentrations of agent. We also developed a monomer agent for comparison to the polymer. After optimizing CEST experimental conditions, we determined that the polymer agent could be used during acidoCEST MRI studies at 125-fold and 488-fold lower concentration than the monomer agent and iopamidol, respectively. We also determined that both agents can measure pH with negligible dependence on temperature. However, pH measurements with both agents were dependent on concentration, which may be due to concentration-dependent changes in hydrogen bonding and/or steric hindrance. We performed in vivo acidoCEST MRI studies using the three agents to study a xenograft MDA-MB-231 model of mammary carcinoma. The tumor pHe measurements were 6.33 ± 0.12, 6.70 ± 0.15, and 6.85 ± 0.15 units with iopamidol, the monomer agent, and polymer agent, respectively. The higher pHe measurements with the monomer and polymer agents were attributed to the concentration dependence of these agents. This study demonstrated that nanoscale agents have merit for CEST MRI studies, but consideration should be given to the dependence of CEST contrast on the concentration of these agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chathuri J Kombala
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Aikaterini Kotrotsou
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - F William Schuler
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Jorge de la Cerda
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Jacqueline C Ma
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Shu Zhang
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Mark D Pagel
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Kombala CJ, Lokugama SD, Kotrotsou A, Li T, Pollard AC, Pagel MD. Simultaneous Evaluations of pH and Enzyme Activity with a CEST MRI Contrast Agent. ACS Sens 2021; 6:4535-4544. [PMID: 34856102 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c02408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular tumor microenvironment of many solid tumors has high acidosis and high protease activity. Simultaneously assessing both characteristics may improve diagnostic evaluations of aggressive tumors and the effects of anticancer treatments. Noninvasive imaging methods have previously been developed that measure extracellular pH or can detect enzyme activity using chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Herein, we developed a single-hybrid CEST agent that can simultaneously measure pH and evaluate protease activity using a combination of dual-power acidoCEST MRI and catalyCEST MRI. Our agent showed CEST signals at 9.2 ppm from a salicylic acid moiety and at 5.0 ppm from an aryl amide. The CEST signal at 9.2 ppm could be measured after selective saturation was applied at 1 and 4 μT, and these measurements could be used with a ratiometric analysis to determine pH. The CEST signal at 5.0 ppm from the aryl amide disappeared after the agent was treated with cathepsin B, while the CEST signal at 9.2 ppm remained, indicating that the agent could detect protease activity through the amide bond cleavage. Michaelis-Menten kinetics studies with catalyCEST MRI demonstrated that the binding affinity (as shown with the Michaelis constant KM), the catalytic turnover rate (kcat), and catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM) were each higher for cathepsin B at lower pH. The kcat rates measured with catalyCEST MRI were lower than the comparable rates measured with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), which reflected a limitation of inherently noisy and relatively insensitive CEST MRI analyses. Although this level of precision limited catalyCEST MRI to semiquantitative evaluations, these semiquantitative assessments of high and low protease activity still had value by demonstrating that high acidosis and high protease activity can be used as synergistic, multiparametric biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chathuri J. Kombala
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Sanjaya D. Lokugama
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Aikaterini Kotrotsou
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Tianzhe Li
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Alyssa C. Pollard
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251, United States
| | - Mark D. Pagel
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Blaszczak W, Swietach P. What do cellular responses to acidity tell us about cancer? Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 40:1159-1176. [PMID: 34850320 PMCID: PMC8825410 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-10005-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The notion that invasive cancer is a product of somatic evolution is a well-established theory that can be modelled mathematically and demonstrated empirically from therapeutic responses. Somatic evolution is by no means deterministic, and ample opportunities exist to steer its trajectory towards cancer cell extinction. One such strategy is to alter the chemical microenvironment shared between host and cancer cells in a way that no longer favours the latter. Ever since the first description of the Warburg effect, acidosis has been recognised as a key chemical signature of the tumour microenvironment. Recent findings have suggested that responses to acidosis, arising through a process of selection and adaptation, give cancer cells a competitive advantage over the host. A surge of research efforts has attempted to understand the basis of this advantage and seek ways of exploiting it therapeutically. Here, we review key findings and place these in the context of a mathematical framework. Looking ahead, we highlight areas relating to cellular adaptation, selection, and heterogeneity that merit more research efforts in order to close in on the goal of exploiting tumour acidity in future therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wiktoria Blaszczak
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, England
| | - Pawel Swietach
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, England.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Chemically Induced pH Perturbations for Analyzing Biological Barriers Using Ion-Sensitive Field-Effect Transistors. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21217277. [PMID: 34770587 PMCID: PMC8588202 DOI: 10.3390/s21217277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Potentiometric pH measurements have long been used for the bioanalysis of biofluids, tissues, and cells. A glass pH electrode and ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) can measure the time course of pH changes in a microenvironment as a result of physiological and biological activities. However, the signal interpretation of passive pH sensing is difficult because many biological activities influence the spatiotemporal distribution of pH in the microenvironment. Moreover, time course measurement suffers from stability because of gradual drifts in signaling. To address these issues, an active method of pH sensing was developed for the analysis of the cell barrier in vitro. The microenvironmental pH is temporarily perturbed by introducing a low concentration of weak acid (NH4+) or base (CH3COO−) to cells cultured on the gate insulator of ISFET using a superfusion system. Considering the pH perturbation originates from the semi-permeability of lipid bilayer plasma membranes, induced proton dynamics are used for analyzing the biomembrane barriers against ions and hydrated species following interaction with exogenous reagents. The unique feature of the method is the sensitivity to the formation of transmembrane pores as small as a proton (H+), enabling the analysis of cell–nanomaterial interactions at the molecular level. The new modality of cell analysis using ISFET is expected to be applied to nanomedicine, drug screening, and tissue engineering.
Collapse
|
32
|
Yoon MC, Solania A, Jiang Z, Christy MP, Podvin S, Mosier C, Lietz CB, Ito G, Gerwick WH, Wolan DW, Hook G, O’Donoghue AJ, Hook V. Selective Neutral pH Inhibitor of Cathepsin B Designed Based on Cleavage Preferences at Cytosolic and Lysosomal pH Conditions. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:1628-1643. [PMID: 34416110 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Cathepsin B is a cysteine protease that normally functions within acidic lysosomes for protein degradation, but in numerous human diseases, cathepsin B translocates to the cytosol having neutral pH where the enzyme activates inflammation and cell death. Cathepsin B is active at both the neutral pH 7.2 of the cytosol and the acidic pH 4.6 within lysosomes. We evaluated the hypothesis that cathepsin B may possess pH-dependent cleavage preferences that can be utilized for design of a selective neutral pH inhibitor by (1) analysis of differential cathepsin B cleavage profiles at neutral pH compared to acidic pH using multiplex substrate profiling by mass spectrometry (MSP-MS), (2) design of pH-selective peptide-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC) substrates, and (3) design and validation of Z-Arg-Lys-acyloxymethyl ketone (AOMK) as a selective neutral pH inhibitor. Cathepsin B displayed preferences for cleaving peptides with Arg in the P2 position at pH 7.2 and Glu in the P2 position at pH 4.6, represented by its primary dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase and modest endopeptidase activity. These properties led to design of the substrate Z-Arg-Lys-AMC having neutral pH selectivity, and its modification with the AOMK warhead to result in the inhibitor Z-Arg-Lys-AOMK. This irreversible inhibitor displays nanomolar potency with 100-fold selectivity for inhibition of cathepsin B at pH 7.2 compared to pH 4.6, shows specificity for cathepsin B over other cysteine cathepsins, and is cell permeable and inhibits intracellular cathepsin B. These findings demonstrate that cathepsin B possesses pH-dependent cleavage properties that can lead to development of a potent, neutral pH inhibitor of this enzyme.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael C. Yoon
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Angelo Solania
- Departments of Molecular Medicine and Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Zhenze Jiang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Mitchell P. Christy
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sonia Podvin
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Charles Mosier
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Christopher B. Lietz
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Gen Ito
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - William H. Gerwick
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Dennis W. Wolan
- Departments of Molecular Medicine and Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Gregory Hook
- American Life Sciences Pharmaceuticals, Inc., La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Anthony J. O’Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Vivian Hook
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Zhang S, Rauch GM, Adrada BE, Boge M, Mohamed RMM, Abdelhafez AH, Son JB, Sun J, Elshafeey NA, White JB, Musall BC, Miyoshi M, Wang X, Kotrotsou A, Wei P, Hwang KP, Ma J, Pagel MD. Assessment of Early Response to Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Using Amide Proton Transfer-weighted Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI: A Pilot Study. Radiol Imaging Cancer 2021; 3:e200155. [PMID: 34477453 PMCID: PMC8489465 DOI: 10.1148/rycan.2021200155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Purpose To determine if amide proton transfer-weighted chemical exchange saturation transfer (APTW CEST) MRI is useful in the early assessment of treatment response in persons with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Materials and Methods In this prospective study, a total of 51 participants (mean age, 51 years [range, 26-79 years]) with TNBC were included who underwent APTW CEST MRI with 0.9- and 2.0-µT saturation power performed at baseline, after two cycles (C2), and after four cycles (C4) of neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST). Imaging was performed between January 31, 2019, and November 11, 2019, and was a part of a clinical trial (registry number NCT02744053). CEST MR images were analyzed using two methods-magnetic transfer ratio asymmetry (MTRasym) and Lorentzian line shape fitting. The APTW CEST signals at baseline, C2, and C4 were compared for 51 participants to evaluate the saturation power levels and analysis methods. The APTW CEST signals and their changes during NAST were then compared for the 26 participants with pathology reports for treatment response assessment. Results A significant APTW CEST signal decrease was observed during NAST when acquisition at 0.9-µT saturation power was paired with Lorentzian line shape fitting analysis and when the acquisition at 2.0 µT was paired with MTRasym analysis. Using 0.9-µT saturation power and Lorentzian line shape fitting, the APTW CEST signal at C2 was significantly different from baseline in participants with pathologic complete response (pCR) (3.19% vs 2.43%; P = .03) but not with non-pCR (2.76% vs 2.50%; P > .05). The APTW CEST signal change was not significant between pCR and non-pCR at all time points. Conclusion Quantitative APTW CEST MRI depended on optimizing acquisition saturation powers and analysis methods. APTW CEST MRI monitored treatment effects but did not differentiate participants with TNBC who had pCR from those with non-pCR. © RSNA, 2021 Clinical trial registration no. NCT02744053 Supplemental material is available for this article.Keywords Molecular Imaging-Cancer, Molecular Imaging-Clinical Translation, MR-Imaging, Breast, Technical Aspects, Tumor Response, Technology Assessment.
Collapse
|
34
|
Impact of Inhibition of the Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier on the Tumor Extracellular pH as Measured by CEST-MRI. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13174278. [PMID: 34503089 PMCID: PMC8428345 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The acidosis of the tumor micro-environment may have profound impact on cancer progression and on the efficacy of treatments. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of a treatment with UK-5099, a mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) inhibitor on tumor extracellular pH (pHe); (2) Methods: glucose consumption, lactate secretion and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) were measured in vitro after exposure of cervix cancer SiHa cells and breast cancer 4T1 cells to UK-5099 (10 µM). Mice bearing the 4T1 tumor model were treated daily during four days with UK-5099 (3 mg/kg). The pHe was evaluated in vivo using either chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST)-MRI with iopamidol as pHe reporter probe or 31P-NMR spectroscopy with 3-aminopropylphosphonate (3-APP). MR protocols were applied before and after 4 days of treatment; (3) Results: glucose consumption, lactate release and ECAR were increased in both cell lines after UK-5099 exposure. CEST-MRI showed a significant decrease in tumor pHe of 0.22 units in UK-5099-treated mice while there was no change over time for mice treated with the vehicle. Parametric images showed a large heterogeneity in response with 16% of voxels shifting to pHe values under 7.0. In contrast, 31P-NMR spectroscopy was unable to detect any significant variation in pHe; (4) Conclusions: MPC inhibition led to a moderate acidification of the extracellular medium in vivo. CEST-MRI provided high resolution parametric images (0.44 µL/voxel) of pHe highlighting the heterogeneity of response within the tumor when exposed to UK-5099.
Collapse
|
35
|
Yang M, Zhong X, Yuan Y. Does Baking Soda Function as a Magic Bullet for Patients With Cancer? A Mini Review. Integr Cancer Ther 2021; 19:1534735420922579. [PMID: 32448009 PMCID: PMC7249593 DOI: 10.1177/1534735420922579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, is widely used in the clinic
as an antacid for treating gastric hyperacidity, among other conditions. Chao et
al have reported a clinical trial about targeting intratumor lactic
acidosis–transarterial chemoembolization. Based on conventional transarterial
chemoembolization, the authors added a 5% sodium bicarbonate solution to
cytotoxic drugs, resulting in a high local control rate. The explanation for the
antitumor effects of sodium bicarbonate is related to acidosis in the tumor
microenvironment. In this review, we summarize the findings from studies
administering sodium bicarbonate alone or in combination with other anticancer
therapies as cancer treatments, and discuss methods for safe and effective use
of sodium bicarbonate in the clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Yang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xian Zhong
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Yuan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Parker JL, Deme JC, Kuteyi G, Wu Z, Huo J, Goldman ID, Owens RJ, Biggin PC, Lea SM, Newstead S. Structural basis of antifolate recognition and transport by PCFT. Nature 2021; 595:130-134. [PMID: 34040256 PMCID: PMC9990147 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03579-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Folates (also known as vitamin B9) have a critical role in cellular metabolism as the starting point in the synthesis of nucleic acids, amino acids and the universal methylating agent S-adenylsmethionine1,2. Folate deficiency is associated with a number of developmental, immune and neurological disorders3-5. Mammals cannot synthesize folates de novo; several systems have therefore evolved to take up folates from the diet and distribute them within the body3,6. The proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) (also known as SLC46A1) mediates folate uptake across the intestinal brush border membrane and the choroid plexus4,7, and is an important route for the delivery of antifolate drugs in cancer chemotherapy8-10. How PCFT recognizes folates or antifolate agents is currently unclear. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of PCFT in a substrate-free state and in complex with a new-generation antifolate drug (pemetrexed). Our results provide a structural basis for understanding antifolate recognition and provide insights into the pH-regulated mechanism of folate transport mediated by PCFT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanne L Parker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Justin C Deme
- Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Central Oxford Structural Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Gabriel Kuteyi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Zhiyi Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jiandong Huo
- Structural Biology, The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Didcot, UK
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Protein Production UK, The Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, UK
| | - I David Goldman
- Departments of Molecular Pharmacology and Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Raymond J Owens
- Structural Biology, The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Didcot, UK
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Protein Production UK, The Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, UK
| | - Philip C Biggin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Susan M Lea
- Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Central Oxford Structural Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Center for Structural Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
| | - Simon Newstead
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- The Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Jeandupeux E, Alameh MG, Ghattas M, De Crescenzo G, Lavertu M. Poly(2-Propylacrylic Acid) Increases In Vitro Bioactivity of Chitosan/mRNA Nanoparticles. J Pharm Sci 2021; 110:3439-3449. [PMID: 34090900 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Chitosan-based nanoparticles have been extensively studied for the delivery of nucleic acids. Previous results suggest that these nanoparticles have limited ability to escape the endosome, one of the main cellular barriers hindering nucleic acid delivery. Escape can be improved by the addition of endosomolytic agents during the formulation process or by developing delivery systems with intrinsic properties to disrupt endosomal membranes. In this study, Poly(2-Propylacrylic Acid) (PPAA), an anionic synthetic polymer with known membrane lytic activity was added to the binary chitosan/mRNA nanoparticles to improve bioactivity. The ionization behavior of PPAA was characterized to identify conditions in which PPAA is sufficiently charged to interact electrostatically with chitosan and thus form nanoparticles. The physicochemical characteristics (hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, ζ-potential) and the in vitro transfection efficiency (bioactivity) of this new family of CS/mRNA/PPAA ternary nanoparticles were evaluated. The addition of PPAA to CS/mRNA nanoparticles was shown to be an efficient strategy to augment in vitro bioactivity. The optimal formulation reached an expression level ~86% of the commercial lipid control at pH 6.5 without any signs of metabolic toxicity. In this paper, we report the effect of salt and pH on the ionization behavior of PPAA and demonstrate 1) successful incorporation of PPAA into/onto nanoparticles, 2) improved bioactivity with PPAA, and 3) that the kosmotropic effects of trehalose play a minimal role in the apparent increase in bioactivity in presence of trehalose.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Jeandupeux
- Polytechnique Montreal, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Majed Ghattas
- Polytechnique Montreal, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gregory De Crescenzo
- Polytechnique Montreal, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Montreal, QC, Canada; Polytechnique Montreal, Department of Chemical Engineering, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marc Lavertu
- Polytechnique Montreal, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Montreal, QC, Canada; Polytechnique Montreal, Department of Chemical Engineering, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Frickenstein AN, Hagood JM, Britten CN, Abbott BS, McNally MW, Vopat CA, Patterson EG, MacCuaig WM, Jain A, Walters KB, McNally LR. Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Properties and Strategies for Enhancing Clinical Effect. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:570. [PMID: 33920503 PMCID: PMC8072651 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13040570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the theragnostic potential of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), these were extensively investigated as a novel approach to improve clinical outcomes. Boasting an impressive array of formulations and modifications, MSNs demonstrate significant in vivo efficacy when used to identify or treat myriad malignant diseases in preclinical models. As MSNs continue transitioning into clinical trials, a thorough understanding of the characteristics of effective MSNs is necessary. This review highlights recent discoveries and advances in MSN understanding and technology. Specific focus is given to cancer theragnostic approaches using MSNs. Characteristics of MSNs such as size, shape, and surface properties are discussed in relation to effective nanomedicine practice and projected clinical efficacy. Additionally, tumor-targeting options used with MSNs are presented with extensive discussion on active-targeting molecules. Methods for decreasing MSN toxicity, improving site-specific delivery, and controlling release of loaded molecules are further explained. Challenges facing the field and translation to clinical environments are presented alongside potential avenues for continuing investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex N. Frickenstein
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA; (A.N.F.); (C.A.V.); (W.M.M.)
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.M.H.); (M.W.M.)
| | - Jordan M. Hagood
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.M.H.); (M.W.M.)
| | - Collin N. Britten
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA; (C.N.B.); (B.S.A.); (K.B.W.)
| | - Brandon S. Abbott
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA; (C.N.B.); (B.S.A.); (K.B.W.)
| | - Molly W. McNally
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.M.H.); (M.W.M.)
| | - Catherine A. Vopat
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA; (A.N.F.); (C.A.V.); (W.M.M.)
| | - Eian G. Patterson
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA;
| | - William M. MacCuaig
- Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA; (A.N.F.); (C.A.V.); (W.M.M.)
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.M.H.); (M.W.M.)
| | - Ajay Jain
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA;
| | - Keisha B. Walters
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA; (C.N.B.); (B.S.A.); (K.B.W.)
| | - Lacey R. McNally
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (J.M.H.); (M.W.M.)
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Autissier R, Mazuel L, Maubert E, Bonny JM, Auzeloux P, Schmitt S, Traoré A, Peyrode C, Miot-Noirault E, Pagés G. Simultaneous proteoglycans and hypoxia mapping of chondrosarcoma environment by frequency selective CEST MRI. Magn Reson Med 2021; 86:1008-1018. [PMID: 33772858 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the relevance of CEST frequency selectivity in simultaneous in vivo imaging of both of chondrosarcoma's phenotypic features, that are, its high proteoglycan concentration and its hypoxic core. METHODS Swarm rat chondrosarcomas were implanted subcutaneously in NMRI nude mice. When tumors were measurable (12-16 days postoperative), mice were submitted to GAG, guanidyl, and APT CEST imaging. Proteoglycans and hypoxia were assessed in parallel by nuclear imaging exploiting 99m Tc-NTP 15-5 and 18 F-FMISO, respectively. Data were completed by ex vivo analysis of proteoglycans (histology and biochemical assay) and hypoxia (immunofluorescence). RESULTS Quantitative analysis of GAG CEST evidenced a significantly higher signal for tumor tissues than for muscles. These results were in agreement with nuclear imaging and ex vivo data. For imaging tumoral pH in vivo, the CEST ratio of APT/guanidyl was studied. This highlighted an important heterogeneity inside the tumor. The hypoxic status was confirmed by 18 F-FMISO PET imaging and ex vivo immunofluorescence. CONCLUSION CEST MRI simultaneously imaged both chondrosarcoma properties during a single experimental run and without the injection of any contrast agent. Both MR and nuclear imaging as well as ex vivo data were in agreement and showed that this chondrosarcoma animal model was rich in proteoglycans. However, even if tumors were lightly hypoxic at the stage studied, acidic areas were highlighted and mapped inside the tumor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roxane Autissier
- INRAE, UR QuaPA, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.,Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,INRAE, ISC AgroResonance, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Leslie Mazuel
- INRAE, UR QuaPA, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.,Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,INRAE, ISC AgroResonance, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Elise Maubert
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jean-Marie Bonny
- INRAE, UR QuaPA, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.,INRAE, ISC AgroResonance, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Philippe Auzeloux
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Sébastien Schmitt
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Amidou Traoré
- INRAE, UR QuaPA, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.,INRAE, ISC AgroResonance, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Caroline Peyrode
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Elisabeth Miot-Noirault
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Guilhem Pagés
- INRAE, UR QuaPA, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.,INRAE, ISC AgroResonance, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Seo H, Ma KY, Tuttle EE, Calderon IAC, Buskermolen AD, Flask CA, Clark HA. A DNA-Based MRI Contrast Agent for Quantitative pH Measurement. ACS Sens 2021; 6:727-732. [PMID: 33625209 PMCID: PMC9489053 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular pH is important in clinical measurements due to its correlation to cell metabolism and disease progression. In MRI, T1/T2 ratiometric analysis and other methods have been previously applied to quantify pH using conventional pulse sequences. However, for nanoparticle-based approaches, heterogeneity in size and surface functionalization tends toward qualitative rather than quantitative results. To address this limitation, we developed a novel DNA-based MRI contrast agent, pH-DMRCA, which utilizes a highly programmable and reproducible nanostructure. The pH-DMRCA is a dendritic DNA scaffold that is functionalized with a pH-responsive MRI-sensitive construct, Gd(NP-DO3A), at the end of each DNA arm. We first evaluated the r1 and r2 response of our pH-DMRCA over a range of pH values (pH = 5-9) to establish a relaxometric model of pH. These MRI-based assessments of pH were validated in a separate set of samples using a pH electrode (n = 18) and resulted in a good linear correlation (R2 = 0.99, slope = 0.98, intercept = 0). A Bland-Altman analysis of the results also showed reasonable agreement between the calculated pH and measured pH. Moreover, these pH comparisons were consistent across three different pH-DMRCA concentrations, demonstrating concentration-independence of the method. This MRI-based pH quantification methodology was further verified in human blood plasma. Given the versatility of the DNA-based nanostructures, the contrast agent has a potential to be applied to a wide variety of imaging applications where extracellular pH is important including cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and other important diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyewon Seo
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Kristine Y Ma
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Erin E Tuttle
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Isen Andrew C Calderon
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Alissa D Buskermolen
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Chris A Flask
- Departments of Radiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Heather A Clark
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Swetha KL, Maravajjala KS, Sharma S, Chowdhury R, Roy A. Development of a tumor extracellular pH-responsive nanocarrier by terminal histidine conjugation in a star shaped poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid). Eur Polym J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
42
|
Prasad S, Chandra A, Cavo M, Parasido E, Fricke S, Lee Y, D'Amone E, Gigli G, Albanese C, Rodriguez O, Del Mercato LL. Optical and magnetic resonance imaging approaches for investigating the tumour microenvironment: state-of-the-art review and future trends. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 32:062001. [PMID: 33065554 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/abc208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The tumour microenvironment (TME) strongly influences tumorigenesis and metastasis. Two of the most characterized properties of the TME are acidosis and hypoxia, both of which are considered hallmarks of tumours as well as critical factors in response to anticancer treatments. Currently, various imaging approaches exist to measure acidosis and hypoxia in the TME, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography and optical imaging. In this review, we will focus on the latest fluorescent-based methods for optical sensing of cell metabolism and MRI as diagnostic imaging tools applied both in vitro and in vivo. The primary emphasis will be on describing the current and future uses of systems that can measure intra- and extra-cellular pH and oxygen changes at high spatial and temporal resolution. In addition, the suitability of these approaches for mapping tumour heterogeneity, and assessing response or failure to therapeutics will also be covered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saumya Prasad
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Anil Chandra
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Marta Cavo
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Erika Parasido
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Center for Translational Imaging, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Stanley Fricke
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Center for Translational Imaging, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Yichien Lee
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Eliana D'Amone
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Mathematics and Physics 'Ennio De Giorgi', University of Salento, via Arnesano, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Chris Albanese
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Center for Translational Imaging, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Olga Rodriguez
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Center for Translational Imaging, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Loretta L Del Mercato
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Chen J, Cao X, Li B, Zhao Z, Chen S, Lai SWT, Muend SA, Nossa GK, Wang L, Guo W, Ye J, Lee PP, Feng M. Warburg Effect Is a Cancer Immune Evasion Mechanism Against Macrophage Immunosurveillance. Front Immunol 2021; 11:621757. [PMID: 33603751 PMCID: PMC7884830 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.621757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Evasion of immunosurveillance is critical for cancer initiation and development. The expression of “don’t eat me” signals protects cancer cells from being phagocytosed by macrophages, and the blockade of such signals demonstrates therapeutic potential by restoring the susceptibility of cancer cells to macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. However, whether additional self-protective mechanisms play a role against macrophage surveillance remains unexplored. Here, we derived a macrophage-resistant cancer model from cells deficient in the expression of CD47, a major “don’t eat me” signal, via a macrophage selection assay. Comparative studies performed between the parental and resistant cells identified self-protective traits independent of CD47, which were examined with both pharmacological or genetic approaches in in vitro phagocytosis assays and in vivo tumor models for their roles in protecting against macrophage surveillance. Here we demonstrated that extracellular acidification resulting from glycolysis in cancer cells protected them against macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. The acidic tumor microenvironment resulted in direct inhibition of macrophage phagocytic ability and recruitment of weakly phagocytic macrophages. Targeting V-ATPase which transports excessive protons in cancer cells to acidify extracellular medium elicited a pro-phagocytic microenvironment with an increased ratio of M1-/M2-like macrophage populations, therefore inhibiting tumor development and metastasis. In addition, blockade of extracellular acidification enhanced cell surface exposure of CD71, targeting which by antibodies promoted cancer cell phagocytosis. Our results reveal that extracellular acidification due to the Warburg effect confers immune evasion ability on cancer cells. This previously unrecognized role highlights the components mediating the Warburg effect as potential targets for new immunotherapy harnessing the tumoricidal capabilities of macrophages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Xu Cao
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Bolei Li
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Zhangchen Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Siqi Chen
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Seigmund W T Lai
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Sabina A Muend
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Gianna K Nossa
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Weihua Guo
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Jian Ye
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Peter P Lee
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Mingye Feng
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Klaus T, Deshmukh S. pH-responsive antibodies for therapeutic applications. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:11. [PMID: 33482842 PMCID: PMC7821552 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00709-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic antibodies are instrumental in improving the treatment outcome for certain disease conditions. However, to enhance their efficacy and specificity, many efforts are continuously made. One of the approaches that are increasingly explored in this field are pH-responsive antibodies capable of binding target antigens in a pH-dependent manner. We reviewed suitability and examples of these antibodies that are functionally modulated by the tumor microenvironment. Provided in this review is an update about antigens targeted by pH-responsive, sweeping, and recycling antibodies. Applicability of the pH-responsive antibodies in the engineering of chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T) and in improving drug delivery to the brain by the enhanced crossing of the blood-brain barrier is also discussed. The pH-responsive antibodies possess strong treatment potential. They emerge as next-generation programmable engineered biologic drugs that are active only within the targeted biological space. Thus, they are valuable in targeting acidified tumor microenvironment because of improved spatial persistence and reduced on-target off-tumor toxicities. We predict that the programmable pH-dependent antibodies become powerful tools in therapies of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Klaus
- Research and Development Department, Pure Biologics, Inc., Dunska 11, 54427, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Sameer Deshmukh
- Research and Development Department, Pure Biologics, Inc., Dunska 11, 54427, Wrocław, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Gelatin/carboxymethyl cellulose based stimuli-responsive hydrogels for controlled delivery of 5-fluorouracil, development, in vitro characterization, in vivo safety and bioavailability evaluation. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 257:117617. [PMID: 33541645 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Current work focuses on the synthesis and characterization of novel pH-sensitive biocompatible gelatin/carboxymethyl cellulose based hydrogels by free radical polymerization technique cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. Effect of pH, polymer ratio and variable crosslinking concentrations on dynamic swelling, equilibrium swelling, porosity, sol-gel analysis and in vitro release pattern was investigated. Hydrogel structure was confirmed by FTIR, XRD, and DSC. Moreover scanning electron microscopy confirmed the porous structure of gel network. Various structure property relationships like average molecular weight between crosslinks (Mc), solvent interaction parameters, volume fraction of polymer (V2,s) and diffusion coefficient (D) that affect the release behaviour were determined. Results showed that maximum swelling and highest release of drug occurred at pH 1.2. Porosity and gel fraction increased by increasing polymer load. The invivo absorption and pharmacokinetics evaluation in rabbit's models revealed the controlled nature of hydrogels. MTT assay confirmed the biocompatible nature of blank hydrogels against Vero cell lines and cytotoxic potential against HeLa cell lines. The preliminary safety evaluation and oral tolerability revealed that the hydrogel solution is safe up to 4000 mg/kg body weight without causing any hematological or histopathological changes in rabbits.
Collapse
|
46
|
Vrettos EI, Karampelas T, Sayyad N, Kougioumtzi A, Syed N, Crook T, Murphy C, Tamvakopoulos C, Tzakos AG. Development of programmable gemcitabine-GnRH pro-drugs bearing linker controllable "click" oxime bond tethers and preclinical evaluation against prostate cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 211:113018. [PMID: 33223264 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) are gaining considerable attention as anti-neoplastic agents. However, their development is often laborious and time-consuming. Herein, we have developed and preclinically evaluated three PDCs with gemcitabine as the anticancer cytotoxic unit and D-Lys6-GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone; GnRH) as the cancer-targeting unit. These units were tethered via acid-labile programmable linkers to guide a differential drug release rate from the PDC through a combination of ester or amide and "click" type oxime ligations. The pro-drugs were designed to enable the selective targeting of malignant tumor cells with linker guided differential drug release rates. We exploited the oxime bond responsiveness against the acidic pH of the tumor microenvironment and the GnRH endocytosis via the GnRH-R GPCR which is overexpressed on cancer cells. The challenging metabolic properties of gemcitabine were addressed during design of the PDCs. We developed a rapid (1 hour) and cost-effective "click" oxime bond ligation platform to assemble in one-pot the 3 desired PDCs that does not require purification, surpassing traditional time-ineffective and low yield methods. The internalization of the tumor-homing peptide unit in cancer cells, overexpressing the GnRH-R, was first validated through confocal laser microscopy and flow cytometry analysis. Subsequently, the three PDCs were evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative effect in prostate cancer cells. Their stability and the release of gemcitabine over time were monitored in vitro in cell culture and in human plasma using LC-MS/MS. We then assessed the ability of the developed PDCs to internalize in prostate cancer cells and to release gemcitabine. The most potent analog, designated GOXG1, was used for pharmacokinetic studies in mice. The metabolism of GOXG1 was examined in liver microsomes, as well as in buffers mimicking the pH of intracellular organelles, resulting in the identification of two metabolites. The major metabolite at low pH emanated from the cleavage of the pH-labile oxime bond, validating our design approach. NMR spectroscopy and in vitro radioligand binding assays were exploited for GOXG1 to validate that upon conjugating the drug to the peptide, the peptide microenvironment responsible for its GnRH-R binding is not perturbed and to confirm its high binding potency to the GnRH-R. Finally, the binding of GOXG1 to the GnRH-R and the associated elicitation of testosterone release in mice were also determined. The facile platform established herein for the rapid assembly of PDCs with linker controllable characteristics from aldehyde and aminooxy units through rapid "click" oxime ligation, that does not require purification steps, could pave the way for a new generation of potent cancer therapeutics, diagnostics and theranostics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Theodoros Karampelas
- Division of Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation ofthe Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nisar Sayyad
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GR-45110, Greece
| | - Anastasia Kougioumtzi
- Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology - Forth, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Nelofer Syed
- John Fulcher Neuro-oncology Laboratory, Dept of Brain Sciences, Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Timothy Crook
- John Fulcher Neuro-oncology Laboratory, Dept of Brain Sciences, Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Carol Murphy
- Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology - Forth, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Constantin Tamvakopoulos
- Division of Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology, Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation ofthe Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas G Tzakos
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GR-45110, Greece; University Research Center of Ioannina (URCI), Institute of Materials Science and Computing, Ioannina, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Trac N, Chen LY, Zhang A, Liao CP, Poon C, Wang J, Ando Y, Joo J, Garri C, Shen K, Kani K, Gross ME, Chung EJ. CCR2-targeted micelles for anti-cancer peptide delivery and immune stimulation. J Control Release 2020; 329:614-623. [PMID: 33011241 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.09.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Signaling between the CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) with its ligand, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) promotes cancer progression by directly stimulating tumor cell proliferation and downregulating the expression of apoptotic proteins. Additionally, the MCP-1/CCR2 signaling axis drives the migration of circulating monocytes into the tumor microenvironment, where they mature into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that promote disease progression through induction of angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, and suppression of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response. In order to simultaneously disrupt MCP-1/CCR2 signaling and target CCR2-expressing cancer cells for drug delivery, KLAK-MCP-1 micelles consisting of a CCR2-targeting peptide sequence (MCP-1 peptide) and the apoptotic KLAKLAK peptide were synthesized. In vitro, KLAK-MCP-1 micelles were observed to bind and induce cytotoxicity to cancer cells through interaction with CCR2. In vivo, KLAK-MCP-1 micelles inhibited tumor growth (34 ± 11%) in a subcutaneous B16F10 murine melanoma model despite minimal tumor accumulation upon intravenous injection. Tumors treated with KLAK-MCP1 demonstrated reduced intratumor CCR2 expression and altered infiltration of TAMs and CTLs as evidenced by immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analysis. These studies highlight the potential application of CCR2-targeted nanotherapeutic micelles in cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noah Trac
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Leng-Ying Chen
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
| | - Ailin Zhang
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
| | - Chun-Peng Liao
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
| | - Christopher Poon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Jonathan Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Yuta Ando
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Johan Joo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Carolina Garri
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
| | - Keyue Shen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Kian Kani
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Mitchell E Gross
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Eun Ji Chung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States; Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States; Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States; Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States; Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Cancer and pH Dynamics: Transcriptional Regulation, Proteostasis, and the Need for New Molecular Tools. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102760. [PMID: 32992762 PMCID: PMC7601256 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
An emerging hallmark of cancer cells is dysregulated pH dynamics. Recent work has suggested that dysregulated intracellular pH (pHi) dynamics enable diverse cancer cellular behaviors at the population level, including cell proliferation, cell migration and metastasis, evasion of apoptosis, and metabolic adaptation. However, the molecular mechanisms driving pH-dependent cancer-associated cell behaviors are largely unknown. In this review article, we explore recent literature suggesting pHi dynamics may play a causative role in regulating or reinforcing tumorigenic transcriptional and proteostatic changes at the molecular level, and discuss outcomes on tumorigenesis and tumor heterogeneity. Most of the data we discuss are population-level analyses; lack of single-cell data is driven by a lack of tools to experimentally change pHi with spatiotemporal control. Data is also sparse on how pHi dynamics play out in complex in vivo microenvironments. To address this need, at the end of this review, we cover recent advances for live-cell pHi measurement at single-cell resolution. We also discuss the essential role for tool development in revealing mechanisms by which pHi dynamics drive tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis.
Collapse
|
49
|
Tuning the Surface Charge of Self-Assembled Polydiacetylene Vesicles to Control Aggregation and Cell Binding. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2020; 10:bios10100132. [PMID: 32987658 PMCID: PMC7598607 DOI: 10.3390/bios10100132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Polydiacetylene vesicles of various compositions were assembled using a two-part mixture of 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA) and ethylenedioxy-bis-ethylamine (EDEA)-labeled PCDA in order to control surface charge and stability within a desired pH range. Investigation of the interaction of the vesicles with mammalian cells as a function of surface charge was carried out and identified a clear correlation in cell–vesicle association and corresponding cell death for vesicles with positive surface charge. The binding behavior of the vesicles was found to be tunable by regulating the proportion of anionic PCDA relative to cationic PCDA–EDEA content within vesicles as to control the surface charge as a function of pH. Association of vesicles with cells thus depended on the corresponding charge of the vesicles and cell surface. The prospect of this work may serve as a step toward future vesicle designs to allow triggered uptake of vesicles locally within low pH tumor microenvironments.
Collapse
|
50
|
Carbonate Apatite and Hydroxyapatite Formulated with Minimal Ingredients to Deliver SiRNA into Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo. J Funct Biomater 2020; 11:jfb11030063. [PMID: 32927738 PMCID: PMC7565062 DOI: 10.3390/jfb11030063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cancer is one of the top-ranked noncommunicable diseases causing deaths to nine million people and affecting almost double worldwide in 2018. Tremendous advancement in surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and targeted immunotherapy have improved the rate of cure and disease-free survival. As genetic mutations vary in different cancers, potential of customized treatment to silence the problem gene/s at the translational level is being explored too. Yet delivering therapeutics at the required dosage only to the affected cells without affecting the healthy ones, is a big hurdle to be overcome. Scientists worldwide have been working to invent a smart drug delivery system for targeted delivery of therapeutics to tumor tissues only. As part of such an effort, few organic nanocarriers went to clinical trials, while inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are still in development stage despite their many customizable properties. Carbonate apatite (CA), a pH sensitive nanocarrier has emerged as an efficient delivery system for drugs, plasmids and siRNAs in preclinical models of breast and colon cancers. Like hydroxyapatite (HA) which serves as a classical tool for delivery of genetic materials such as siRNA and plasmid, CA is an apatite-based synthetic carrier. We developed simplified methods of formulating CA-in-DMEM and a DMEM-mimicking buffer and HA in a HEPES-buffered solution and characterized them in terms of size, stability, protein corona (PC) composition, cytotoxicity, siRNA delivery efficiency in breast cancer cells and siRNA biodistribution profile in a mouse model of breast cancer. Methods: Particle growth was analyzed via spectrophotometry and light microscopy, size was measured via dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy and confirmation of functional groups in apatite structures was made by FT-IR. siRNA-binding was analyzed via spectrophotometry. Stability of the formulation solutions/buffers was tested over various time points and at different temperatures to determine their compatibility in the context of practical usage. Cellular uptake was studied via fluorescence microscopy. MTT assay was performed to measure the cytotoxicity of the NPs. Liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry was carried out to analyze the PC formed around all three different NPs in serum-containing media. To explore biodistribution of all the formulations, fluorescence-labeled siRNA-loaded NPs were administered intravenously prior to analysis of fluorescence intensity in the collected organs and tumors of the treated mice. Results: The size of NPs in 10% serum-containing media was dramatically different where CA-in-DMB and HA were much larger than CA-in-DMEM. Effect of media was notable on the PC composition of all three NPs. All three NPs bound albumin and some common protease inhibitors involved in bone metabolism due to their compositional similarity to our bone materials. Moreover, CA also bound heme-binding proteins and opsonins. Unlike CA, HA bound different kinds of keratins. Difference in PC constitution was likely to influence accumulation of NPs in various organs including those of reticuloendothelial system, such as liver and spleen and the tumor. We found 10 times more tumor accumulation of CA-in-DMB than CA-in-DMEM, which could be due to more stable siRNA-binding and distinct PC composition of the former. Conclusion: As a nanocarrier CA is more efficient than HA for siRNA delivery to the tumor. CA prepared in a buffer containing only the mere constituents was potentially more efficient than classical CA prepared in DMEM, owing to the exclusion of interference attributed by the inorganic ions and organic molecules present in DMEM.
Collapse
|